"That's very funny, Mr. Sloane. We protect two million a year like you. You come and you go. You play games in the 100 square mile block called Waikiki. Pretty stupid games. Things you wouldn't be caught dead doing back home. But still, we protect you. We bust our guts to protect you. But when we need your help, it's a different story, isn't it?" - Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett to an uncooperative witness from the mainland who wants police protection
Hawaii Five-O: The Second Season DVD Review
By Jude Clement
This summer has been unusually cool here in New York City, but things are sure to heat up with the release of Hawaii Five-O: The Second Season. The series again follows tough guy crime fighter Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord), leader of the Five-O, a division of the Hawaii State Police. McGarrett's team includes young second-in-command Danny "Danno" Williams (James MacArthur), and natives Chin Ho Kelly (Kam Fong) and Kono Kalakaua (Zulu).
So, has Hawaii Five-O softened at all in its second year? Let's just say that in the first three minutes of the premiere episode, "A Thousand Pardons-You're Dead," a bar girl played by M*A*S*H's Loretta Swit is bludgeoned over the head before being deliberately run over by a car. Later, a man is literally scared to death. All this is directed by Nicholas Colasanto, Coach from Cheers. Nope, this series is as hard-edged as ever.
As with season one, Hawaii Five-O: The Second Season remains stylishly filmed-cameras that zoom in and out, objects placed in the foreground to add interest to the shot, unusual camera angles, odd P.O.V. shots-but never in a way that detracts from the show.
This sense of style carries over to the series' writing and editing. Watch the scene in "King Kamehameha Blues" which intercuts a museum curator explaining to McGarrett why the King's cape-a priceless bit of Hawaiian history-is impossible to steal and a group of college radicals explaining exactly how they're going to do just that. Then, during the heist, the other objects on exhibit seem to be staring at the thieves, silent witnesses to this crime against Hawaiian culture.
McGarrett is as tough as ever, driving around in his black Mercury and wearing that cool blue suit, but he again shows his softer side in season two. In "Blind Tiger," he is blinded on his birthday when someone seeking revenge sets off a bomb in his car. Stuck in the hospital unable to investigate the case, he finally meets his own match-a gruff nurse played by Marion Ross (Happy Days). Nurse Edith Lavallo uses tough techniques to help rehabilitate her crippled charge, treating him with an iron fist. Her methods work, though-a tough man like McGarrett requires a tough hand-and they end up making a good team.
Also be on the lookout for a pair of baby-faced actors who would go on to much bigger projects. First up is Christopher Walken (Hairspray) playing a sailor involved in a shooting in "Run, Johnny, Run." Tom Skerritt (Picket Fences) plays a cop who goes on a rampage when his wife is murdered in "Most Likely to Murder." This episode, which contains several twist endings, also features an appearance by Sam Melville (The Rookies).
And be on the lookout for Marj Dusay (The Guiding Light), Mark Lenard (Planet of the Apes), Will Geer (The Waltons), Elaine Joyce (Match Game PM), John Randolph (Angie), Brandon de Wilde (Shane), Keye Luke (Sidekicks), Ed Flanders (St. Elsewhere), Karl Swenson (Little House on the Prairie), and Dana Elcar (MacGyver).
Many fans anticipated that this set would include the long-lost episode "Bored, She Hung Herself," but, as a disclaimer on the back notes, "The Second Season Episode 'Bored, She Hung Herself' aired only once and is not included in this set." By internet accounts, this episode featured a character that practiced some sort of auto-asphyxiation technique as part of his health routine. When his girlfriend dies from hanging, the Five-O investigates. Apparently a viewer accidentally died with trying this technique, and the episode was pulled to prevent any further copycats.
The twenty-four episodes that make up Hawaii Five-O: The Second Season are divided onto six discs. The discs are housed in three slim, clear plastic keepcases, each of which holds two discs. The fronts of the cases include photos of the series' stars. The backs of the cases include titles, brief synopses, and original airdates for each episode. The interiors of the cases include a stylized illustration of palm trees along with the repeated phrases like "Book 'Em, Danno." The discs feature photos of palm trees. The keepcases slide into a cardboard outer sleeve.
The DVD menus are simple and easy to navigate. Viewers choose individual episodes, but there is no "play all" feature this time around. The episodes are divided into chapters, but there are no scene selection menus.
